FORCES mission is to engage New York State college students to simultaneously improve OPRHP resources and enrich student academic, recreational, and career opportunities. 2020 FORCES STEWARDS: THE FORCE BEHIND FORCES Kit majors in Environmental Studies at Ithaca College. He is from Foxboro, MA and is interested in forest health, GIS, trail work, hiking, kayaking, unicycling, and making little wire bonsai trees. Last summer, Kit served as an Invasive Species Management Steward in the Finger Lakes Region. His goal is to get more involved in volunteer work, and do conservation Kit Atanasoff projects around the country. Inv.Sp. Mgmt. Steward While attending SUNY Geneseo, Jenny majors in History and Political Science. She grew up in Henrietta, NY and historic preservation/environmental conservation interest her. Jenny served as the SUNY Geneseo FORCES Club President. She also enjoys running, hiking, cooking, and reading. Jenny’s career goal is to work for either NYS OPRHP, the Jenny Bartholomay National Park Service or for a similar organization at an SUNY Geneseo Club President outdoor historic site. Originally from Banoor, PA, Rachael attends SUNY ESF where she studies Environmental Biology. She likes Ducks Unlimited, aquatics and microbiology, and wetland ecosystems. Rachael served as an Environmental Interpretation Steward in the Central Region. Her career goal is to graduate with her Bachelor’s in Environmental Biology and land a position working in wetlands or Rachael Bealer a related ecosystem. Env. Interpretation Steward At Ithaca College, Anna majors in Environmental Studies. She is from Buffalo, NY and enjoys hiking, music, and running. Anna served as a Three Gorges FORCES Stewardship Corps Member in the Finger Lakes Region. She would someday love to travel to all 50 states and have a career focusing on sustainability and conservation. Anna Bornstein Stewardship Corps Member Jay studies Biology with a minor in Animal Welfare at Medaille College. His hometown is Liverpool, NY and he enjoys many activities including running cross country for Medaille, hanging out with friends, being outside, watching movies, playing video games, and hiking. Jay served as a Trail Management Steward in the Niagara Region. He would like to continue his education Jay Bortel with a masters program, or work for a government agency. Trail Mgmt. Steward Amber grew up in Orchard Park, NY and attends the University at Buffalo to study Environmental Sustainability/Geosciences. She served as a Wildlife Management Steward in the Niagara Region. Amber enjoys hiking, climbing, birding, and reading. She would like to work in the sustainability field and possibly go on to a masters program. She’d also go to Asia/Africa and Amber Ciesielski visit elephants in national parks/preserves. Wildlife Mgmt. Steward While attending Niagara County Community College enrolled in the Recreation Studies Department, TJ served as a Trails Steward in the Niagara Region. He calls Tonawanda, NY home and some of his hobbies include hunting, fishing, riding dirt bikes and camping. He would like to become a DEC conservation officer but is open to any job that keeps him TJ Clark outdoors. Trails Steward While enrolled at the University at Buffalo majoring in the Ecology and Evolution Masters program, Sean also served as a Conservation Steward in the Niagara Region. He is from Niagara, NY and in his spare time enjoys football, playing music, and biking. Sean would like to learn new aspects of the environmental field and work towards earning his PhD. Sean Colby Wildlife Mgmt. Steward Sara is working towards a BS in Forest Health at SUNY ESF. She grew up in Colden, NY and her hobbies include spending time in the outdoors camping, kayaking, and hiking. She is very passionate about environmental education, especially tree health. Sara served as a Community Conservation Steward in the Central Region. She is currently working on the American Chestnut Project at SUNY ESF and would like to publish a paper on her findings. After graduation, she would like to become a forest health advisor for NYS Parks and to Sara Cosenza continue her research on tree pathogens. Community Conserv. Steward Lauren studies Environmental Biology at SUNY ESF. Last spring, she served as an Environmental Interpretation Steward in the Central Region. She calls Fairfax, VA home and was previously a competitive rock climber. Other interests include organismal biology and education. Lauren would like to increase her knowledge of organismal biology Lauren Craige and expand her knowledge on educating biology. Env. Interp. Steward When Madeline is not busy studying Environment and Sustainability at Cornell University, she may be hiking, camping or traveling. At home in Lansing, NY, she loves swimming and watching sunsets at the lake. Madeline is also interested in soil-water interactions and protecting the quality of these resources and how soil and riparian ecosystems can act as a filter for water contaminants. She served as a Conservation Steward in the Finger Lakes Region. Madeline plans to go to graduate school and have a career combining research and public outreach. She also would like to do fieldwork in cool Madeline Czymmeck places so she can explore while getting some experience! Ultimately, Conservation Steward Madeline wants to have a job she enjoys doing most days, have hiking trails near where she lives and be surrounded by people she loves. Chris recently graduated from SUNY ESF with a degree in Conservation Biology. He comes from Dalton, MA and enjoys hunting, fishing, and hiking. Chris served as a Conservation Steward in the Central Region. His career goal is to pursue a career in aquatics and fisheries in NYS. Chris Danforth Conservation Steward Anthony attends the University at Buffalo and studies Environmental Geoscience. Last summer, he served as a Water Quality Steward in the Niagara Region. He calls Lancaster, NY home and is interested in hydrology, water quality, pollution, and ecology. During his time with Parks, one of his goals was to get a better understanding of careers in Anthony DeAngelis the field, network, and gain valuable field experience. Water Quality Steward After growing up in Lockport, NY, Lucy enrolled in the University at Buffalo to major in Political Science/Gender and Sexuality Studies; transferring to Environmental Science. Lucy served as a Pollinator Steward in the Niagara Region. She loves baking and runs a dog collar business. Lucy is interested in transgender issues and wildlife conservation and her goal is to work for a nonprofit on public policy. Once she distinguishes a Lucy DesJardins career path, she will go on to grad school or law school. Pollinator Steward Joy is working towards her degree in Environmental Science at the University at Buffalo. Hailing from Springville, NY, she enjoys nature, reading, and watching TV/ hanging out with friends. Joy served as a Pollinator Steward in the Niagara Region and during this time, she hoped to gain more knowledge in the environmental field. Joy Fleckstein Pollinator Steward Originally from Arcade, NY, Rachael attends SUNY ESF to study Forest Health. She served as a Natural Resource Conservation Steward in the Central Region. In her spare time, Rachael likes hiking, fishing, astronomy, microbiology, geology, exploration, natural history, plant propagation, soccer, fishing, and environmental education. She’d like to educate the public on what is out there and to explore and Rachael Foote protect on an environmental standpoint. Nat. Resource Mgmt. Steward Derek studies Conservation Biology at SUNY ESF. Brookfield, CT is home and he enjoys biking, backpacking, music, studying plants, and working to save the planet. Last summer, Derek served as a Conservation Steward in the Central Region. Some of Derek’s goals include working with endangered species, hiking the 46 Adirondack High Peaks, Derek Gallo and running a marathon. Conservation Steward Taylor is working towards her degree in Environmental Studies at Pace University. Wildlife conservation, specifically carnivores, are an interest and she served as a Flora and Fauna Steward in the Taconic Region last summer and during her internship, she gained more experience with camera trapping, turtle research, invasive species removal, and wildlife tracking. Taylor Ganis Flora and Fauna Steward Morgan studies Computer Science at Niagara University. She is from Mumford, NY and is interested in video gaming and hiking. Morgan has served for several semesters as Data Management Steward in the Niagara Region. Morgan Gere Data Management Steward Luke is enrolled at Le Moyne College where he studies Environmental Science Systems. He is from Lyndhurst, NJ and is interested in Renewable Energy. Luke served as the Le Moyne College FORCES Club Co-President for two semesters. His goal is to obtain a career working to address climate change. Luke Giunta Le Moyne Club Co-President Felix is enrolled at Pace University and is working on his Master’s Degree in Environmental Studies. Since his internship at Rockefeller State Park Preserve as a Fauna Steward, he has obtained a significant amount of experience in the methods used to perform field-research on aquatic turtles. Additionally, Felix has contributed to documenting the species of fish which inhabit the aquatic systems within the preserve, as well as disseminating information to the public on the Felix Gonzalez importance of sustainable fishing practices. Flora and Fauna Steward Miranda studies Conservation Biology with a minor in Environmental Health at SUNY ESF. She grew up in Syracuse, NY and likes to spend time camping, kayaking, climbing, and hiking with her dogs. Miranda served as an Invasive Species management Steward in the Central Region. She is also a member of the Syracuse University Outing Club where she’s served as Paddling Chair and Secretary. During her time at ESF, she’s taken an interest in herpetology, entomology, and natural resources management. After graduation Miranda would like to work with NYS Parks. After that, she wants to travel and move west where she can work with the National Park Service.